While many people are resigned to the current state of affairs in the campaign finance arena, we believe there is much that can and should be done to fix this broken system. We believe that the way in which we elect our officials is not a partisan issue; it is an American issue. But it is an issue that far too many people feel is beyond their control, that far too few people engage in, and that far too often lacks solutions consistent with conservative principles.

Our organization was formed and is run by individuals who understand the political process from the inside out, and are now seeking to educate people about the power they have to shape the process from the outside in. Our staff members have participated in elections of all shapes and sizes across this great nation. Rather than standing idly by as those who seek to buy political favor continue to exert a disproportionate impact on our political process, we are determined to educate and engage the citizens of this great land who are both disenfranchised with and disgusted by the entire political process. We want to educate people about the real issues, the real challenges, and help them to see that there are real solutions. We want people to see that this important debate need not be one-sided.

We believe that a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people” is not one beholden to big business and union influence. We believe that once individuals better understand these issues, and understand that there are many more like them who share their disdain for the status quo, the natural outgrowth of this understanding will be a better engaged and more involved citizenry. And then the people – not us, nor any corporation or special interest – with eyes wide open will realize their power to Take Back Our Republic.

Take Back Our Republic believes that individual participation in the American political system is the best way to preserve and strengthen our liberty. We engage in research, education, and advocacy about returning political power to individuals and ending the system of escalating campaign contributions by corporations, labor unions and special interests that fuels government spending. We believe politicians should be responsible to the people and not to self-serving moneyed interest who seek government subsidies and special treatment at a significant cost to taxpayers.

As with any successful team, each member of Take Back brings to the table a different, though equally impressive background in politics that unifies their desire to change the process in which our country funds campaigns. Collectively, in grass roots efforts, they have knocked on thousands of doors of everyday Americans across this country and asked for their vote in order to meet or beat the polling numbers. They have advised candidates and legislators alike, from how to win an election to crafting local zoning issues to coalition efforts for Presidential campaigns and been elected to office. They’ve fought against intrusive regulations, raised money to fight opposing money, and more recently, found themselves watching more Americans decide to stay at home on Election Day simply because of a systemic disdain for American politics. But as vast as their personal experiences may be on paper, they all vehemently agree that the system is inherently flawed and needs to be changed in order to reverse the damage that is slowly stealing our Republic.

John Pudner was the oldest of 9 children growing up in a 3 bedroom house in inner city Richmond, VA where he attended the same Catholic, military high school as Donald Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon. Now the father of 9 children, John Pudner learned at a young age the importance of timing, negotiating and diplomacy. More importantly, he learned how to live on a shoe-string budget. Those early life lessons helped put him on the national political scene when in the 2014 primaries, he jump-started the campaign of Dave Brat, who would ultimately unseat U.S. Majority Leader Eric Cantor in one of the most unprecedented upsets in political history. Later in the general election of the same year, he would help defeat a 32-year incumbent state senator in Alabama’s general election. He managed campaigns for almost three decades. His now-famous strategy of outsmarting instead of outspending the opposition was born out of a hobby of extrapolating statistical data on sports teams. With an affinity for numbers and grassroots initiatives, John became known as the go-to-guy to help upstart candidates that didn’t have the financial backing needed to play in the political sandbox. During his career, he won 3 out of every 4 races in which he was involved. John’s corporate successes included turning out hundreds of residents to numerous zoning hearings to stop big-money developers from overrunning small businesses and residents by violating local ordinances. Bannon and Pudner developed a relationship over their shared efforts to keep the inner city commitment of their alma mater, and Bannon later hired Pudner as sports editor to launch Breitbart Sports. In turn, Pudner alerted Bannon and other key media outlets about his launch of Dave Brat’s campaign to ultimately shock Majority leader Eric Cantor.

But through all his successes, John Pudner saw firsthand the influence of money on politics—the manipulation of the system and the loopholes that didn’t favor a transparent election— one in which only select major corporate donors and union bosses were the true winners. With a desire to now recreate the system instead of circumventing it, John Pudner will lead this team of ex-political wonks to help change the very industry in which they once thrived.

Don’t let Justin’s unassuming southern accent fool you. This Alabama native has an incredible, innate ability to recruit, organize and motivate a mega-team of disjointed volunteers into a fine-oiled machine. His experience as a YMCA Youth Director developed and honed his communication skills enough to ultimately plan and execute more than 40,000 door knocks and thousands more phone calls for candidates like Alabama State Senator Dr. Larry Stutts and Alabama House Commerce Committee Chair, Jack Williams.Justin’s departure from the “Y” led him straight into the political arena to direct large grassroots initiatives for campaigns in Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Virginia. He’s proven to be a natural networker and extremely successful grassroots operative for several winning campaigns. Most notably the 2014 general election as he helped unseat a 32 year incumbent Alabama Senate member with a no-name gynecologist candidate who’d never served in office before..Justin will be an incredible addition to the Take Back team as he orchestrates and manages the day to day operations that will prove to be the oil in this engine.

Lacy Campbell is an Auburn native and recent graduate of Auburn University with a degree in nutrition science and a minor in Spanish. Lacy is an avid reader and traveler (she has visited four of the seven continents) and enjoys any outdoor activity, including camping, backpacking, and hiking.During her time at Auburn, she served as the sole senator representing the College of Human Sciences in the Student Government Association Student Senate. In this role she, as apart of the Code of Laws committee, oversaw an almost complete yearlong audit of the Code of Laws, which is the governing document of the student body. As well, she was elected to serve as the Collegiate Recruitment Information Chair for her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, working to receive and process all incoming recommendations and letters from alumni about potential new members as well as organizing current members through out the recruitment process.

Lacy is dedicated to serving her community that has seen her throughout her life thus far.

Kristi Broadfoot ReiffA native of Florence, Alabama; and a graduate of Auburn University, Kristi Broadfoot Reiff recently returned to Auburn. She spent several years living in Washington, DC, working for Republican Members of the Alabama Delegation handling multiple legislative issues. After marrying a United States Marine, Kristi found herself living in North Carolina where she worked on a congressional campaign and later for her local Board of Elections. Though newly back to Auburn, Kristi and her family are excited to establish roots and be active members of the Auburn community. She volunteers for the Semper Fi Fund, serves as the Vice-President of Membership for the Junior League of Lee County, and serves as the chapter adviser for the Gamma Rho chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.

Based in Auburn, Alabama, Theresa Gorman currently is the administrator and bookkeeper for Take Back Our Republic. When not in the office, she is heavily involved with community volunteering including food pantry, working with her church’s outreach for Haiti, and at various other volunteer areas. She previously worked as the Religious Education Director for a large local church. She considers herself a student of life and tries to learn as much as possible when the opportunity arises. Theresa holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts with a business minor from the North Central College in Illinois.

The only intern who truly understands the historical value of sweet tea in the south, Alexis Esneault grew up in the aerospace epi-center, Huntsville, Alabama, and graduated with honors from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, in May, 2015. Though her travels from the northern most to the southern most cities of the state garnered her a degree in Philosophy, this soon-to-be law student has shared her indelible personality and passion for liberty throughout the country and landed her back in Alabama to help raise national awareness for TBOR.Esneault’s resume is a reflection of her inability to accept status quo. In addition to her studies (that secured a 5-time inclusion on the Dean’s List), she founded and served as President of the first ever Young Americans for Liberty Chapter on Spring Hill’s campus in 2013. She was recruited to be the Mississippi State Chair of the YAL and ultimately founded Liberty On The Rocks chapter in Mobile, AL, in order to involve the community outside the campus. She’s been invited to speak at regional and national YAL conventions and is the go-to person for starting and growing a conservative think-group on college campuses around the country. Her internship through Harvard enabled her to spend the summer with the TBOR staff here in Auburn.Esneault’s conservative roots run deep. Surrounded by progressives in both her community and college environment, she’s become quite savvy in defending her allegiance to the concept of small government, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—all while protecting the Constitution. Her excitement and zest for life are contagious. But consider yourself warned—this former philosophy major who tutored Logic for fun, is well-informed and will win the argument. Every. Time. TBOR is thrilled she’s on our side.